Indra Kantono

Is there a more compelling success story in Asia’s bar scene than that of Jigger & Pony?

Co-founded in 2012 by Indra Kantono and his wife Gan Guoyi, the Jigger & Pony Group has not only shaped Singapore’s cocktail culture but has now set its sights abroad. Kantono, who grew up in Singapore before a career in strategy consulting, and Guoyi initially built their empire on providing a place where guests could consistently find comfort, forge friendships, and share happiness over well-crafted drinks—a philosophy that expanded to bottled cocktails dubbed “Pony” during the pandemic.

Their meticulous approach, rooted in the Japanese philosophy of kaizen (continuous improvement), has paid dividends. Jigger & Pony clinched the award for Singapore’s best bar for the sixth consecutive year during the Asia’s 50 Best Bar 2025 ceremony, setting a new benchmark for the region. The bar currently ranks No. 3 in Asia and No. 9 in the world. As Kantono notes, their success didn't come overnight, becoming a World’s 50 Best Bar only in their seventh year, a testament to their strong, uncompromising identity.

Building on this decade of experience and learning from operating bars like Caffe Fernet and Live Twice, the Group is launching its first overseas venture: Cosmo Pony in Jakarta, Indonesia. Debuted in July 2024 at the Grand Hyatt Jakarta, the bar is a collaboration with Indonesian hospitality group The Union Group. Kantono, citing his Indonesian roots and the city’s rising cocktail scene, believes Jakartans are “thirsty for more sophisticated and craft-driven cocktail bars.” While the new concept is inspired by the classic Cosmopolitan and tailored to the cosmopolitan locale, its core DNA remains true to the polished, craft-focused Jigger & Pony brand.